Apparatus for forming slip-seals on opposite ends of bell-ended sewer tile



June 30, 1959 APPARATUS FOR FRMING SLIP-SEALS ON OPPOSITE ENDS OFBELL-ENDED SEWER TILE Filed Dec. 27, 1.954

R F. PETERSON 2,892,235

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Poscoe 9 f pecrsan.

ORNEY June 30', 1959 R. F. PETERSON 2, APPARATUS FOR FORMING SLIP-S S 0NOSITE ENDS OF BELLENDED s R TIL Filed Dec. 27, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR 4- poscoe 9'. 2 6 tensor:

QQM

ORNEY F. PETERSON APPARATUS FOR FORMING SLIP-SEALS 0N OPPOSITE June 30,1959 ENDS OF BELL-ENDED SEWER THE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 27, 1954INVENTOR JQoscoe 6'? peterson.

United States Patent APPARATUS FOR FORIVHNG SLIP-SEALS ON OP- POSI'IE-ENDS OF BELL-ENDED SEWER TILE Roscoe F. Peterson, Eaton Rapids, Mich.

Application December 27, 1954, Serial No. 477,855

2,892,235 Patented June 30, 1959 outer face of the lower end of the tileand on the inner 11 Claims. (Cl. 25-39) The present invention relatesbroadly to the'forming of slip-seal joints, and in its specific phasesto an apparatus for use in casting alined-slip-seals at the oppositeends of a sewer tile.

Tile of the glazed, bell-ended type are commonly used in the laying ofsewer lines. When such tile are used for this purpose, the jointsbetween them have to be sealed to prevent leakage as well as ingress ofroots which in time will plug a tile line. The universal procedurecurrently used in forming such joints involves separately pouring amastic slip-seal joint with a tapered face separately and independentlyon each end of the tile and then when the tile is laid, a sealant, suchas asphalt or the like, is swabbed over the joint to be made with theseslip-seals and the two tiles put together with the small or spigot endof one tile fitting into the hub or bell end of the other tile.Theoretically, this is a very practical procedure but the currentpractice of independently forming the seal on each end of a tile resultsin non-coaxial seals wherein the joints do not properly fit and as aresult there is leakage at the joint or, when such non-axial joints aretightly fitted, there is an uneven row of sewer tile when laid. Thereason for this is that seldom is there a sewer tile which is perfect.In other words, instead of being perfectly round, they turn out to beslightly elliptical or egg-shaped and, still further, the bell end ofsame is not only non-round but more often than not it is'not in a planetruly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tile. Thedifiiculties of making tight joints under those conditions has led somecities to require that the joints between sewer tile be made and themastic poured in place in the bottom of the trench in order to get astraight sewer with better joints. Such, however, is an impossiblesituation where there is water in the trench since that prevents thecasting of joints in this manner. It was a recognition of these problemsand unsolved difiiculties which led to the conception and development ofthe present invention.

Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention is the provisionof an apparatus which makes posmachine.

Another object is to provide a machine for use in the forming of alinedslip-seal joints on sewer tile wherein such machine has self-adjustingmembers in its upper and lower portions which aline the tile for theupper and lower slip-seals before the latter are poured.

A further object is to produce a slip-seal forming machine which is ofrapid action type facilitating the formation of slip-seal joints onsewer tile or the like.

A still further object is to provide a slip-seal forming machine whereinthe upper and lower members are pre-alined and adapted to receive andcentera sewer tile or the likebefore the mastic used in the slip-seal ispoured. 1

A further object is to provide a slip-seal forming 1 machine for sewertile orthe likewhich has adjustable face of the bell end of the tile soas to stop or at least substantially stop the flow of slip-seal formingmastic when same is poured to form the matching seal on both ends of thetile.

A further object is to provide means for rapidly chilling a hot pouredslip-seal joint in order to speed up the formation of same.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention willappear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, consists of the means of forming slip-seal joints as hereinafterfully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexeddrawings and the following description setting forth in detail certainmeans of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating,however, but one of the various ways in which the principle of theinvention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of a preferred form of apparatusfor producing alined slip-seal joints on the opposite ends of abell-ended sewer tile or the like.

Figure 2 shows a top view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1. V

Figure 3 shows a section view of the lower portion of the apparatus atthe bottom of the tile with a slip-seal in place, as taken along theline 33 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 shows a top View of the lower portion of the apparatus with thetile in place and centered ready for casting the slip-seal on the spigotend of the tile.

Figure 5 shows a section view of the upper portion of the apparatus atthe top of the bell-ended tile with a slip-seal in place, as taken alongline 5-5 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 shows a top view of the upper portion of the apparatus with thetile in place and centered ready for casting the slip-seal in the bellend of the tile, the supporting spider portion being omitted for clarityof illustration of the other parts.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, apreferred form of the apparatus of the present invention involves theuse of a base 1 on which is mounted a hollow pedestal 2 carrying on itsupper end a head 3 anchored in conventional manner on said pedestal.Mounted on the pedestal 2 between base 1 and head 3 is an adjustablemember 4- which has gripping means such as bolts 5 for holding samefirmly at various elevations on pedestal 2. Such pedestal is alsoprovided with a rib or key 6 which fits a matching groove (not shown) inadjustable member 4. This type of construction makes possible straightline movement up and down when the adjustable member is moved onpedestal 2.

The outer end of adjustable member 4 is provided with a housing 7 whichis preferably hollow and provided with conventional upper and loweropenings 8 and 9 through which a spindle 10 closely but slidably fits.At the rear edge of this spindle there is provided a rack 11 with a gear12 in mesh with same. This gear is mounted on a cross shaft 13 whichextends through the side of housing 7 and has conventionally fastened onthe outer end of same an operating member 14 which may 3 be of anysuitable type, such as hand operated through the use of projecting arms15.

Head 3 is also preferably made of hollow construction and provided withalined upper and lower openings 16 and 17 for guiding spindle in itsendwise movements. Inside of head 3 is preferably provided a pair ofrollers 18 and 19 mounted on stub shafts 20 and 21. Passing over theserollers is a chain 22, one end of which is fastened to an anchor member23 mounted on spindle 10. The other end of chain 22, whichpasses overroller 18, hangs down into hollow pedestal 2 and has fastened in itslower end a counterweight 24. This counterweight is preferably of a sizeadapted to counterbalance the weight of spindle 10 and the upperslip-seal forming assembly 25 which is conventionally fastened in fixedposition on the lower end of spindle 10. It is thus clear that byrotating operating member 14 through the use of projecting arms 15 orthe like, the upper slip-seal forming assembly can be easily raised orlowered as required.

The upper slip-seal forming assembly 25,, Figures 5 and 6, is carried onspindle 10 by means of a spider 26, the legs 27 of which are welded orotherwise joined to ring member 28, the outer face of which tapersinward toward the lower end of same at an angle of approximately threedegrees. Welded or otherwise fastened on the inner face of ring member28, preferably about midheight of same, are three supporting brackets 29which are drilled and threaded for studs 30 which in turn pass through atiltable plate 31 and which plate is held against the heads of studs 30by means of compression springs 32. It is thus to be seen that when ring28 passes down into the bell 33 of tile 34, the side edges of tiltableplate 31 will first come up against the shoulder within the bell as isshown in Figure 5. If this shoulder is not perfectly in alinement with aplane perpendicular to the axis of the tile, the tiltable plate 31 willrectify such situation and rest in tilted position on the shoulderwithin the tile bell, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

In the center of tiltable plate 31 there is provided an opening for bolt35 on the upper end of which is fastened an operating arm 36 in anyconvenient manner, such as by means of a pin 37. Bolt 35 is freelyrotatable in opening 38 through plate 31 and on the lower end of bolt 35there is mounted a plate 39 which may be held against rotating on bolt35 by means of a key 40, and adjusted endwise thereon by means of a nut41. Pivotally mounted on plate 39 by means of studs 42 are threecentering links 43, the outer ends of which are supported and heldsubstantially free from sidewise motion by means of a pair of studs 44and 45. Each of these centering links is preferably provided at itsouter end with a tapered edge outer shoe member 46. The centering links43, as is shown in Figure 6, are mounted off center plate 39 so thatwhen forced down into the slightly smaller diameter top of the main boreof a tile they will rotate plate 39 in clockwise direction, Figure 6,against the tension of tension spring 47, one end of which is anchoredto a pin 48 on operating arm 36 and the other end to a pin 49 on the topof tiltable plate 31. A stop plate 50 fastened to tiltable plate 31 bymeans of a stud 51 acts to support the assembly in starting positionready for insertion into the top or bell portion 33 of tile 34.

Mounted on the upper face of base 1 of the assembly is a lower slip-sealforming assembly 52. This assembly has a lower ring member 53, Figures 3and 4, the inner face of which is tapered inward towards its bottom,preferably at an angle of approximately three degrees. This ring may hemounted flush on base 1, Figure l, but is preferably fastened inconventional manner, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, on three supportingarms 54, the outer ends of which are provided with bolt holes for use infastening the lower slip-seal forming assembly 52 on base 1 in axialalinement with upper slipseal forming assembly 25. The inner ends ofthese supporting arms 54 are drilled and threaded f r ud 55 which inturn have loosely mounted thereon a lower tiltable plate 57 withcompression springs 58 on said studs between supporting arms 54 andtiltable plate 57. These springs thus allow the plate to tilt andclosely fit the lower end of spigot 59 of tile 34 for a purpose to behereinafter set forth. Approximately at the center of tiltable plate 57same is provided with an opening 60 which closely but freely fits bolt61. The lower end of that bolt carries an operating arm 62 anchored infixed position thereon in conventional manner, for instance by means ofa pin 63 and a nut 64. A stop member 65 held in place on tiltable plate57 by a stud 66 acts as a bumper for operating arm 62, which is normallyheld up against same by means of a tension spring 67, one end of whichis connected to a pin 68 fastened to operating arm 62, while the otherend of tension spring 67 is fastened to a pin 69 connected to the underface of tiltable plate 57. At the upper side of tiltable plate 57 thereis fastened on bolt 61, for rotation therewith, a plate 70. Thefastening of plate 70 on bolt 61 may be accomplished in any conventionalmanner, such as by means of a key 71. Eccentrically joined to plate 70by means of studs 72 are three centering links 73, each of which has atapered end shoe member 74 adapted to contact the inner face of thespigot 59 of tile 34 to center same in lower ring member 53. Eachcentering link 73 is guided in its endwise movements by a pair of studs75 and 76 which also hold down and stabilize the centering links 73 whenthe tile 34 is removed from the assembly.

Since the mastic forming the lining 77 in the bell 33, and the ferrule78 on spigot 51 of tile 34 is generally of asphalt base type and isapplied hot, upper ring member 28 and lower ring member 53 arepreferably made hollow for the reception of a cooling fluid, such ascold water, to quickly set up the mastic and thus increase the output ofthe machine. If desired the cooling fluid can be delivered to theassembly by means of a supply pipe 79, Figures 1 and 2, connected to theinlet of lower ring member 53 by means of an inlet pipe 80, and to theinlet of upper ring member 28 by means of an inlet hose 81 and nipple82. At the opposite side of the assembly there is provided an exhaustpipe 83 connected to the outlet of lower ring member 53 by means of anoutlet pipe 84, and to the outlet of the upper ring member by means ofan outlet nipple 85 and an outlet hose 86.

To use the present invention, the tapered outer face of the upper ringmember 28 and the tapered inner face of lower ring member 53 are coatedwith a lubricating material such as wet soapstone. The upper slip-sealforming assembly is then raised by appropriately rotating operatingmember 14, Figure 1, and tile 34 is set in place with its spigot 59centered within ring 53 on the lower tiltable plate, and resting onlower tiltable plate 57 and then the upper slip-seal forming assembly 25is lowered into place within the bell 33 until its tiltable plate 31 isin contact with and resting on the inner shoulder of bell 33. With thecooling fluid, such as cold water, flowing through upper and lower ringmembers 28 and 53, the apparatus is ready for the pouring of the hotmastic lining of the bell 33 and ferrule of the spigot 59 of the tile34. At the end of the casting procedure when the mastic has hardened theupper slip-seal forming assembly 25 can be raised, and the tile 34 withits alined lining and ferrule can be removed and replaced with anothertile to repeat the cycle. It is thus to be seen that tiltable plates 31and 59 act as a backstop for the hot mastic and hold it againstsubstantial through flow and waste.

The tile 34 thus provided with the alined lining 77 and ferrule 78,which are of mating size and taper, is adapted for laying with like tileto form a tile line such as a sewer, or the like, in the bottom of atrench even though there be some water in the trench. While these tilecan be laid without further treatment, it is preferred that the matingsurfaces of the lining and ferrule be J swabbedwith a suitable sealantbefore being pushed tightly together, one after another, to form thetile line. This sealant which may be of tarry or liquid asphalt type, oreven of mastic solvent type, causes the lining and ferrule to joinin'their mating surfaces so that once they have set up it is practicallyimpossibleto get them apart and a watertight joint is formed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a novel and advantageous type ofapparatus for forming slip-seal joints in the bell end and on the spigotend of sewer tile or the like has been provided, and new methods inconnection with same, have been disclosed for attaining the desiredends. However, attention is invited to the possibility of makingvariations to same within the spirit and scope of the present invention.While for convenience the apparatus and method involved have beendescribed and set forth in terms of an upright mounted apparatus, it isnot limited to that position, even though it is a preferred one. Thedirectional terms such as upper, lower, top, bottom, et cetera, areaccordingly to be considered as relative only, and not limiting oneither the apparatus, method, or product involved.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the means andmethods herein disclosed, provided those stated by any of the followingclaims or their equivalent be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A machine for forming slip-seals on the opposite ends ofan articlesuch as a bell-ended sewer tile, which comprises an upper'slip-sealforming means, a lower slipseal forming means, a base for the latterslip-seal forming means, a pedestal laterally offset with respect toboth of said means rising from said base, a head extending from saidpedestal above both of said slip-seal forming means, a spindle risingfrom said upper slip-seal forming means slidably guided in said head,said upper and lower slip-seal forming means being in axial alinementwith each other, means adjustably carried by said pedestal locatedintermediate said upper slip-seal forming means and head for adjustingthe space between said upper and lower slip-seal forming means tofacilitate placing said tile in position to receive said slip-seals, andto remove the same after said slip-seals are finished, and resilientlybiased means carried by both said upper and lower slip-seal formingmeans insertable within the ends of the sewer tile for truing the endsof the sewer tile with respect to the slip-seal forming means regardlessof irregularities in the tile ends.

2. A machine for forming alined slipseals as set forth in claim 1,wherein said upper and lower slip-seal forming means include taperedface members having substantially identical tapers of a size to formslip-seals with mating size faces on the opposite ends of the tile, andtiltable means adjacent the lower end of each of said tapered facemembers adapted to form a substantially tight joint between said taperedface members and said tile at the lower end of each of said slip-seals.

3. A machine for forming alined slip-seals as set forth in claim 1,wherein said upper and lower slip-seal forming means include hollowtapered face members, and connecting means facilitating the flowing of acooling fluid through said tapered face members, said tapered facemembers having substantially identical tapers of a size to formslip-seals with mating size faces on the opposite ends of the tile.

4. A machine for forming mating slip-seals on the opposite ends of anarticle such as a bell-ended sewer tile, which comprises a base, apedestal mounted on and extending upward from said base, a head meansmounted on the upper end of said pedestal, an endwise adjustable meansmounted on the upper portion of said pedestal below said head means andextending over said base, an upper slip-seal forming means, a spindlemember 6 connected to the upper end of said upper slip-seal formingmeans, said head means and said adjustable means mounted on saidpedestal acting'through said spindle to guide said upper slip-seal meansin its endwise movements, means on said adjustable means for engagingsaid spindle member for raising and lowering said-upper slipseal meansrelative to said adjustable means, a lower slipseal forming meansmounted on said base, said upper and lower slip-seal forming means beingin alinement, said upper and lower slip-seal forming means includingmembers with truncated cone shaped seal forming faces havingsubstantially identical small angle tapers inclined in the samedirection to form mating face seals with the seal in the bell-end of thetile flaring outward, said members with the truncated cone faces beinghollow, connecting means facilitating the flowing of a cooling fluidthrough said hollow members, a plate member mounted on each of saidhollow members, each of said plate mem: bers being slightly smallerthan, within, and adjacent the lower end of the corresponding hollowmember, means for tiltably mounting said plate members for movementrelative to said hollow members to facilitate said plate memberssubstantially sealing on an end portion of said tile, 2. self-adjustingtile end centering means for each of said plate members, and means formounting said self-adjusting tile end centering means on the ad jacentsides of said plate members in position to engage the inside of the mainbore of the tile adjacent its ends.

5. In a machine for forming slip-seals, a ring for molding a side faceof a slip-seal, a plate for seating contact with a wall of a tileperpendicular to its longitudinal axis, centering elements pivoted tosaid plate adapted to extend into and engage the bore wall of the tile,means loosely and resiliently holding said plate on said ring in amanner permitting tilting of said plate, to enable better engagement ofsame with said first-mentioned wall, and a spring actuated rotatablemechanism pivotally mounted on said plate and pivotally connected tosaid centering elements for resiliently urging them toward borewallengaging position.

6. In a machine for forming slip-seals, a plate for seating contact witha wall of a tile perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, a bolt meanspassing loosely through said plate permitting tilting of the latter toenable better engagement with said first-mentioned wall, a second plate,said second plate being turnable with said bolt means, centeringelements pivoted to said second plate, means on the first plate to guidethe centering elements in paths non-radial with respect to the boltmeans into engagement with the bore wall of the tile, and means mountedby one of the plates and connected to the other plate urging movement ofthe centering elements toward bore wall-engaging position.

7. A machine for forming slip-seals on the opposite ends of an articlesuch as a bell-ended sewer tile, which comprises an upper slip-sealforming means, a lower slip-seal forming means, a base for the latterslip-seal forming means, a pedestal laterally offset with respect toboth of said means rising from said base, a head extending from saidpedestal above both of said slip-seal forming means, a spindle risingfrom said upper slip-seal forming means slidably guided in said head,said upper and lower slip-seal forming means being in axial alignmentWith each other, means adjustably carried by said pedestal locatedintermediate said upper slip-seal forming means and head for adjustingthe space between said upper and lower slip-seal forming means tofacilitate placing said tile in position to receive said slip-seals, andto remove same after said slip-seals are finished, and at least one ofsaid slip-seal forming means including a tapered face member, and aplate member slightly smaller than, within, and adjacent the lower endof said tapered face member, and means for tiltably mounting said platemember for movement relative to said tapered face member to facilitatesaid ,plate member substantially sealing on an end portion of said tile.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7, including means for cooling thehotmastic material applied to the ends of said sewer tile adjaientsaidslipeseal forming means.

9. A machine for forming slip-seals onthe opposite ends of the articlesuch as a bell-ended sewer tile, which comprises anupper slip-sealforming means, a lower slipseal forming means, a basefor the latterslip-seal forming means, a pedestal laterally offset with respect to.both of said means rising from said base, a head extending from saidpedestal above both of.sai d slip-.seal-forming means,a'spindle risingfrom said upper slip-seal forming means slidably guided in said head,said upper and lower slip seal forming means beingin axial alignmentwith each .other, means adjustably'icarried bvsaid pedestal locatedintermediate said upper slip-seal forming means and head for adjustingthe space between said upper and lower slip-seal forming means tofacilitateplacing said tile in position to receive .said slipaseals, andto remove same after said slip-seals are finished, and atleast one ofsaid slip-seal forming means including a tapered face member, a platemember slightly smaller than, within, and adjacent the lower end of saidtapered face member, means for tiltably mounting said plate member formovement relative to said tapered face member to facilitate said platemember substantially sealing on an end portion of said tile, aself-adjusting tile end centering means, and means for mounting thelatter on said plate member.

10. A machine for forming mating slip-seals on the opposite ends of anarticle such as a bell-ended sewer tile, which comprises a base, ahollow pedestal mounted on and extending upward from said base, a membermounted on the upper portion of said pedestal for adjustment endwise ofthe latter, a hollow head above said member projecting from saidpedestal, said member and head extending over said base, an upperslip-seal forming means, a spindle rising from the latter slidable insaid member and said head, counter-balancing means for said upperslip-seal forming means. primarily located within said pedestal and saidhead, means on said adjustable member for raising and lowering saidupper slip-seal forming means, a lower slip-seal forming means mountedon said base, said upper and lower slip-seal forming means being inalignment with each other and of matching sizes so as to. form coaxialmating size and shape slip-seals, with the slip-seal in the bell end ofthe tile being in the form of a lining member and that on the other endof the tile in theform of a ferrule, at least one of said slipsealforming means including a member with a truncated cone-shaped sealforming face, and a plate member slightly smaller than and adjacent thelower :end of said truncated cone-shaped seal forming face member, andmeans for tiltably mounting said plate member for movement relative tosaid truncated cone-shaped seal forming face member to facilitate saidplate member substantially sealing on an end portion of said tile.

11. The device as set forth in claim 10, including a self-adjusting tileend centering means, and means for mounting the latter on said platemember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,376,085 Radford et al. May 15, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,466 GreatBritain Feb. 15, 1896 17,706 Great Britain Aug. 1, 1913 19,305 GreatBritain Sept. 3, 1902 22,788 Great Britain Dec. 14, 1900 27,510 GreatBritain Nov. 29, 1912

